Written by (If you are seriously in the market for a green, environmentally friendly vehicles, check out the reasons you really want one.)
There are many advantages and disadvantages to buying an environmentally friendly vehicle. What are the real reasons that you want to buy one? Hopefully it is not because you just want to be ‘in fashion’, but because you are genuinely concerned about the environment.
Let us look as the disadvantages first
This is not to discourage you, but just to put the facts in an objective manner.
• A hybrid vehicle costs more.
• Your choice is restricted since all vehicles are not available in environmentally friendly versions.
• The batteries, which cost a lot, may not last a long time.
• It will give less mileage when compared to a traditional gasoline powered car.
• It will give a limited speed.
• It will run for a maximum of a certain number of hours.
• Charging stations for electric cars are still not easily available.
• Spare parts may not be easily available.
• Servicing may be difficult.
• In very cold weather, you may not be able to run the car on batteries, but have to rely more on gasoline.
• High voltage used in these cars may be dangerous in case of accidents.
• Because of their light weight when compared to conventional cars, they can easily lose traction and spin out of control at high speeds or in collisions.
Advantages of greener cars
• They are more environmentally friendly.
• They reduce the levels on carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
• They reduce dependence on fossil fuels from non-renewable sources.
• You will pay less road tax.
• Fuel costs are cheaper.
• Some states have separate lanes for environmentally friendly cars.
• Cars are more fuel efficient.
• Charging stations are coming up and the more cars on the road, the sooner there will be more facilities for them.
• As it is the car of the future, it is going to get better and more technologically advanced.
• Seeing the demand, more manufactures are making eco-friendly cars, so there is a lot more choice than before.
• When you use a green car, you are doing your bit for the environment.
• Apart from personal vehicles, trucks, buses and taxis are also going green.
Popular hybrids
Most families own more than one car.
If even one is a hybrid, it is going to have a positive effect on the environment. Among popular hybrids are the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion, Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Lexus CT, Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus ECOneti, Seat Ibiza, Citroen C3 and Skoda Fabia Estate.Even Porsche and Ferrari are developing hybrid cars.
Among these are top brands, testifying to the popularity of green cars. For city and urban driving, green, environmentally friendly cars are a good bet. If you can use solar chargers, solar panels, try and conserve water and electricity, you can certainly buy a green car and reduce your carbon footprint.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1718746&page=1
http://www.cardab.com/08/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-hybrid-cars/
http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2010/04/whats-driving-the-electric-hybrid-green-car-auto-market.html
